“What’s special about it?” asks my 12-year- old grandson, before committing to accepting a ticket to A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Melbourne’s glorious Botanical Gardens.
Rather than try to explain that the play is about love as a complex metaphoric catalyst for conflict, chaos, and comedy, I merely smile and reply, “ Absolutely everything.”
In fact, to partially quote Shakespeare via the The Maltese Falcon, “This is the stuff that dreams are made of.”
Glen Elston’s current production is the most complete tribute to Shakespeare’s comedies that I can remember.
Love’s human frailties are exposed through all manner of dramatic skills and entertainment – clarity of meaning, song, dance, gymnastics, physical fights, poetry, witty links to current politics, magic and ubiquitous “trends”.
I would need to list all crew, cast and directors to be fair to this production; sadly I don’t have room. But please look them all up at A Midsummer Night’s Dream Under the Stars, for this is a superbly balanced romp by a superb interdependent theatrical team, with full trust in each other’s talents and timing.
Sound, lights, technical effects, set, costumes, choreography, directors, music, performers, FoH all take a bow.
If spirits do hang around out there, most surely the Bard was smiling broadly somewhere just above us in our picnic chairs as he saw his most famous comedy brought to glorious life by a team celebrating the wonderful 35th year of this iconic Australian Shakespeare Company’s Botanical Gardens productions, under the magical mix of stage lighting, coupled with nature’s clouds and shadows, and on human built staging surrounded by nature’s own set of trees and shrubs.
As ever, you are invited to take along your picnic. Front rows with beach chairs start at $100 with children only $35. Then work back through rent-a-chair down to take-a-blanket. This is the most delicious family entertainment that Melbourne offers this holiday; don’t miss it.
Until February 17. Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne – Southern Cross Lawn
Bookings: Australian Shakespeare Company or 8676 7511. Bookings essential.

• Review by Maggie Morrison